Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

There are a couple of features that I would like to see in upcoming 300 series models and I am wondering what features others may wish for. I continue to thnk that a wider (1 3/4 inch) fretboard could be used to great advantage by all musicians. I am also thinking that a bridge that is fastented to the body might also be a useful feature. What do you think?

Peter, are you thinking along the lines of a 'tune-o-matic' style bridge? Do you think that this would address some of the issues that have been brought up about intonation on other threads?? The 'tune-o-matic' has been around for quite a while, but I have never asked anyone how they hold up.....I've never owned a Gibson personally.....

I'm pretty happy with the 300 series as it stands now. I think I would just like to see more options available from the factory (the 12 saddle bridge option) as well as little cosmetic things like being able to order a MG with chrome parts, but black pickguard/nameplate direct from Ric.

Peter, do you know something about "upcoming" 300 series instruments timeline wise, or were you just speaking hypothetically?

John: I have wondered whether a tune-o-matic style bridge would be a feasible option. Based on my reading, I understand that they do hold up well. I do not know what change in sound that this may bring about with regard to the 300 series. I have not read any comments from RIC as to whether such a bridge has been considered.

Corey: This is strictly hypothetical! I was changing strings and cleaning my 350 and as such needed to remove all the strings. I simply wondered if a bridge secured to the body would have made my task simplier.

A variation to the existing bridge could be made .

A pair of 1/4-20 threaded inserts with an O.D. of 1/2" could be made and installed into the body.

The posts for this would have the 1/4-20 thread and then turned on a lathe down to 10/32 and have a hex key adjustment made on the end .These would be steel .The insert could be brass.
To keep them in place , the chassis of the existing bridge would no longer use the 'plate' nor the cover.
These studs would have the bridge set down on them and a set of 'blind' nuts would hold and cover the hex key adjustment of the studs.This would give a clean look and keep the hex key area from clogging with crud and also 'smooth' the edge so you would not chaf e your hand from rubbing on this area .
Fairly easy to do and very cost effective .

A CNC machine shop with a CNC lathe could spit these out .The blind nut is an over the counter item .They come in stainless steel or brass.They could save on plating if stainless was used .It would cost no more than what is currently being used and it would not fall off the guitar.

The arguements against it are ;

1- we don't do this or never have .
2- it is not the classic Rick look
3- Why do this , we have never had to do this and we are making lots of instruments ...plus it would be one more thing to inventory.
4-Customers like the look of the bridge as is .

Mark: You raise two interesting points in my view. First, such a bridge could be produced and may perhaps be more functional. Second, this change would be a break in tradition that may not be accepted by those purchasing Rickenbackers. The functional versus the aesthetic. In the end, I suppose that this is really an all or none venture and may cause considerable disruption on the floor.

Maybe the benifits would carry over to the 12-strings as well.....(intonation, bridge placement etc....)

I have to say, I prefer to have something like my beloved 360 left alone (more or less), but I'm all for the experimentation of the new models. For instance, I'm very impressed with the Laguna as far as looks and sound go. As well, the 650 series seems to offer endless possibilites.

Take the whole line and divide it .

Vintage re-issues All the "C" series stuff

Then the Standard models

Then the Acoustics ,

The basses

Then you have the new guitars .
IE) the future,all the walnuts guitars , the dream guitars .

Leave all the old the way they are .The new versions ...make the change.
All the humbucking guitars etc.

This could also spread to variations on new guitars ...like say ; make a 12 string 360 with the body size of the 350 and then remove the tailpiece to a easy to make extrusion of brass , remove the guard , and lengthen the headstock by 1/2" to spread the tuners out .This would make pegwinding easier to do ! What a concept!

I agree...After all, we wouldn't have nearly what we have today if it wasn't for forward thinking. A guitar such as the one Mark talks about wouldn't be any more radical than introducing a guitar like the 360/12 was in 1963.

Dr. Fraunkensteen: "IT--COOOOOD---WERRRRRRKK!!!"

As long as it did not have the abbie normal input jack !

How about a 350 with only saddle-mounted Piezo pickups?

Mark: Have you ever worked on a Banjoline? How big are those bodies in relation to a standard 360/12 roundtop?? I would think Rickenbacker could make a prototype with the suggestions made on this thread and come up with a remarkable guitar at a low R&D cost, while still retaining many of the traditional aesthetics people have come to love about a Rick....

(put---the candle----BACK----)

I'd consider ordering a 350 if I could get it in the Susanna Hoffs way...although, preferably with 3 toasters and no HB1's.

I have worked on a Banjoline ...but it was so long ago I don't remember.
The neck sure was different ....the body, Seems to me it was the same .